Meanderings through all that makes life in a small town in Provence worth while...

Saturday, February 16, 2013

Update from the couch

Hello there! This will be just a little update, yes, one from the couch where I have been spending quite a bit of time with two wonderful furry creatures, Kipling and Ben. How are they getting along? Now, now don't be silly, just take a look at the above photo. Ben who is less of a snuggler than one might think, initially resisted but slooowly his head fell down, down, down onto Kipling until he was sleeping with his eyes half-open as he is want to do. It was a first but as you will see, not the last...

Now, I have to say that we have had a little setback with Kip's recovery. He has developed an inflammation on his abdominal wall, which is producing quite a bit of liquid and blood that are forming in pockets under the skin. Claire, who is our vet and is also a very dear friend, has been taking excellent care of Kip, including putting in a drain yesterday that we hope will do the trick. Already, Remi and I see quite a big difference and hope to get this boy out of any pain as soon as possible!

But, as it is being treated and he is back on antibiotics, it should not develop into a dangerous situation--just in case you might be a worrier as I am. And that doesn't prevent us from taking him on his walks along the Rhone in the morning and to the Arena at night (for now, I am not varying them as I want to reassure him as much as possible). But we are taking it easy.

And so much sleeping is involved, provoked with "Radio Spa" which Remi has realized has a very soothing action on both puppers. Yes, he often has to wear the dreaded "Cone of Shame" as fellow dog owners will call it so as to be sure that he doesn't pull out the drain but he is getting used to it. Slowly but surely.

And even with the cone, the couch is not such a terrible place to be when we have such friends to lean on, n'est-ce pas?

46 comments:

OMG, that last picture just says it all!! May all of have a friend to lean on when we need it most! Thanks, Heather, for keep us in the loop. I was actually thinking about Kipling yesterday, wondering if he is okay. I am a worrier, too.

Gosh, they are both so beautiful. I'm sending good wishes your way and hoping that the surgery and its aftermath becomes a distant memory before long. In the meantime, it sounds like Kip is in excellent hands.

Welcome, Kipling! How wonderful, and how lovely that they are beginning to love each other. Kipling sounds like a joy of a dog, matching Ben. Our most recent rescue came last September, and we called him Rémy. We hope your wonderful Remi is not too taken aback :-). Congratulations on adding one more to your beautiful family.

Ah, the dreaded cone. Our dog had to wear one once, and she refused to come into the house. She dug in her heels at the threshold and refused to take another step. She drools a bit in her sleep, so it was always a slimy mess in the morning. Yuck.

Superb photographs and story of lovely moments in the face of challenge! Forgive the cliche, but love is conquering all! Bravo to each and all of you, Leslie, with Henry, Bob and Scott in Portland, Oregon

Don't call it the "Cone of Shame." He is only doing what's natural as you know. At one point or another all our dogs have had them on. So happy he's well enough to go walking, Heather. By the look of things, their owners have pulled out all stops to make them happy. Are they having filet mignon for dinner?

Such preciousness! And wonderful news that the two are getting along so well. I am not surprised at all. Wishing Kip a speedy recovery which will happen soon given the attentive care you are providing. Ben is a real sport for so readily allowing Kip to become a part of his, and your and Remi's lives. You are going to have so much fun with the two of them!

I've been speaking of Ben and Kipling so often in recent days that you'd think we lived much closer and that perhaps they were human friends of mine. . .thanks for the updates and hugs to the furry ones as well as to their caregivers!

Ben and Kipling look so cute together with Ben providing brotherly support. You have no idea how big Ben and Kipling’s fan club has become along the eastern seaboard with everyone anxiously awaiting your next post. We’re all rooting for Kipling to make a full recovery so he can run and play with Ben.

In response to your posting about picking up Kipling at the Rescue shelter, I sent the J.D. Ackerley quotation "A dog has but one aim in life: to bestow his heart".

Looking at these pictures you've taken, my first thought is "Oh, I expect the same goes for Heather and Remi..."

thank you for this posting.

At the risk of thoroughly spoiling the tone of this response?....I've got to tell youthat a friend of mine, who happens to own a lab that's perpetually plagued by hot spots, went to a Hallween party dressed as her own dog. She picked up some brown, long-shag rugs at the walmart, made/stiched-up a loose-fitting pair of "pajamas", tore up various spots, smeared those with vaseline & lipstick, painted her nose black,and put on a one of those horrible elizabethan "no chew" ruffs.

NO one asked her to dance, which was just fine with her and, for that matter, something she'd predicted.

P.S. I just rcalled....they weren'ts "rugs"....they were pillow-shams (is that what you call those things?), covered with shaggy, "Chewbaccah" (is that whay that character from"Star Wards" was named?) fur.

This is/was the same woman who showed up at yet ANOTHER costume party in a dripping wet, vintage 1960's cocktail dress....with fake eyelashes, a bouffant wig tilting crazily to one side, and artificial seaweed (from the japanese restaurant she frequents) dripping from the wig and dress. She staggered around, gripping a detached steering wheel (don't know where she got THAT from)....and she was accompanied by not one, bit six dates....all gay waiters whom she liked, and all brill-creamed and wearing identical 1960's-style black suits, and all carrying martini glasses.

She spent most of the night telling appalled fellow guests "Come on....guess....it's EASY!!!!"....and then she'd roll her eyes and announce "We're Mary Joe Kopechnik and Six Ted Kennedy clones! What do you think? It's WILD, isn't it?"

It was (or so I gathered the majority of folks thought) mostly just creepy and off-putting.

This was all back in the late 80's. I expect she's calmed down by now...or maybe she hasn't.

So enjoy the updates on Kip and Ben. We are considering a rescue dog as a companion for our female Labrador. We recently lost our older male and she is in need of a playmate and a snuggle mate. These posts have been inspirational and encouraging. Thanks for sharing!

Oh hooray, Laura. That would make me cry big loopy tears of joy if this story helps you make the move to adopt a pupper! And there was the most GORGEOUS black Lab at the SPA des Baux...I would have brought her home too if only I could!

Reading this post evoked so many 'aahs' from here! They are bonding beautifully. I have a 5 year old miniature poodle who is so used to being and only dog ...... I have been thinking about finding him a companion and your post is very encouraging. Kipling sounds like a beautiful boy and lovely compliment to Ben. Maureen xx

Maureen, for sure that has been one of the biggest challenges--letting Ben know that he is not going to be shut out and that we love him as much as ever. If anything, he has behaved like such an utter gentleman (gentledog) that I love him even more! But we also knew this could be possible because we found a dog that could blend well and not bully our easy going Ben. There is a liiiittle of that happening while each dog finds their place but not too much at all. :)

Oh the poor thing, but it looks like he is in great company, surrounded by love and an endless supply of cuddles! Ben and Kip look so much alike, as if they were already related. Their identical coloring is incredible. I wish him a speedy recovery!

Oh, I found this entry..bless them both..such beauties! Kip will do just fine with all the love and care he is getting...in person and from all his 'fans'!Maxi and Toffe...both rescue dogs from Pasadena CA...now living in Montreal with me..have asked me to send their woofs and licks...and wish Kip a quick recovery!

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About Me

Heather Robinson earned a MFA from Yale and was a professional actress in New York before moving to France where she collaborated with National Geographic photographer Rémi Bénali as a photographer/writer team covering tribes, traditions and World Heritage Sites in some of the world's most far-flung places. Heather has been a regular contributor to Grands Reportages magazine in France where her work has also been published in Figaro Magazine, Hotel & Lodge, Le Pèlerin and Le Monde des Religions. Her writing has also been seen in numerous magazines in Europe, Africa, Asia, South-East Asia and Russia. Her photography has been published in I-Heart magazine in France as well as Architectural Digest in the US. After 16 years of living in France, she is currently discovering what life in Provence is like on her own, always with an eye on beauty in all its forms as her inspiration.

Walk With Me

Discovering Arles was what the French call a "coup de coeur" or "love at first sight." I would be delighted to share with you its complex mesh of history, vitality and quality of life. I am currently offering a three hour walk through "Le Centre Historique" for small groups of up to six people. Please feel free to contact me at robinsonheather (at) yahoo.com for further details.